Question:
What is the best method of birth control?

I WAS CURIOUS IM A EARLY POST OP AND I WANT TO FIND OUT THE BEST FORM OF BIRTH CONTROL...ME AND MY HUSBAND WANT TO HAVE KIDS BUT I WANT TO WAIT TILL IM FURTHER OUT POST OP WISE..IM CURRENTLY ON THE PILL MY DOCTOR SAYS THIS IS STILL ABSORBED WELL AND I SHOULD BE FINE ON IT BUT I HEAR SO MANY HERE SAY THAT ITS NOT I WAS CURIOUS TO SEE IF ANYONE EVER TOOK THE THE PILL AND HAD THE DEPO VERA SHOT AS WELL. I DON'T KNOW IF THE SHOT IS BETTER THAN THE PILL...OR USING BOTH WOULD BE GOOD...WOULD IT AFFECT MY WEIGHT LOSS? ALL ANSWERS APPRECIATED...IM NOT POSTING ANONYMOUSLY CAUSE I KNOW MANY WOMEN OUT THERE PROBABLY HAVE THE SAME QUESTIONS ABOUT BIRTH CONTROL...    — DEIRDRE D. (posted on January 1, 2002)

January 1, 2002
First of all, I'm not an expert, but I have been spending hours reading profiles, message board, etc. and it seems like the chemical methods of birth control, pills, depo provera, etc. are not as reliable after the surgery. I think due to the weight loss releasing a lot of estrogen from the fat cells. Your best bet is to talk to your OB/GYN, but if I were in your shoes, I'd use a barrier method, condoms or a diaphram, for a while.
   — garw

January 1, 2002
Wow, I felt like I was reading my own post. I talked to my surgeon about this as well. I have two kids, and I am done. I'm having a lap, and the surgeon doesn't tie tubes. So, I asked how well the pill was after surgery. He said it was fine to take and effective. I told him of all the profiles i had read and all the women that seemed to think the same thing, and are now giving birth. He told me that there were no studies to show the pill wasn't effective. I chalked it up to him being a man, and I'd consult further. <br> <br> So I talked to my regular PCP, who happens to be a woman. She said she definitely suggests another form of birth control. She seemed to really be confident of the copper IUD. She said it is inserted over the cervix and copper has been proven to kill sperm. She said you can wear it for up to ten years. I haven't done a lot of research on it yet, but from what she told me, it is my first choice. Who knows, maybe I will change my mind after researching it!
   — Goldilauxx B.

January 1, 2002
Fortunately I don't have to worry about this problem since we are done having children and my husband was fixed a while back. I am not sure that I would trust any chemical method of BC after the surgery. But I did want to comment on the IUD. I had a copper one for a year after having my first child. I loved it. There are a few risks associated with insertion that you should discuss with your doctor and they recommend that you have had one child before using one. It is so convenient. Check it once a month and that's it. You don't even know it is there.
   — Virginia N.

January 1, 2002
I am still breastfeeding my 23.5 month old daughter, so I've chosen to avoid hormonal birth control methods. I've had a copper IUD since early August and have had no problems. I really like it! And, wow, most insurance plans that cover birth control at all will cover most or part of the cost of the IUD, so it was even free to me. :-)
   — Julia M.